Mosakoli 10
1 Ndenge nzinzi ekufa ekomisaka malasi solo mabe, ndenge wana mpe mwa bozoba ebebisaka bwanya mpe lokumu.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
2 Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekendaka na nzela ya malamu, kasi motema ya zoba ekendaka na nzela ya mabe.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
3 Ata tango zoba atambolaka na nzela, bozangi mayele na ye etalisaka na bato mosusu ete azali zoba.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
4 Soki mokonzi atombokeli yo, kolongwa na esika na yo ya mosala te; pamba te motema ya kokita epekisaka bambeba minene.
If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
5 Namonaki mabe moko na se ya moyi, lokola libunga epai ya bakonzi:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 bazoba batombolami na bisika ya lokumu makasi, kasi bazwi batikali na bisika ya se.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 Namonaki bawumbu kotambola likolo ya bampunda, mpe bakonzi kotambola na makolo lokola bawumbu.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 Moto oyo atimoli libulu akoki kokweya kati na yango; mpe moto oyo abuki mir ya lopango, nyoka ekoki koswa ye.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 Moto oyo abukaka mabanga akoki kozoka na yango, oyo apasolaka mabaya akoki mpe kozwa likama.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
10 Soki epasola esili minu mpe bapelisi yango te, moto oyo akosalela yango akobimisa makasi mingi; kasi bwanya epesaka elonga.
If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
11 Soki nyoka eswi moto liboso ete asakanisa yango, litomba ezali lisusu te epai ya moto oyo asakanisaka banyoka.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 Maloba ya moto ya bwanya epesaka esengo, kasi maloba ya zoba elukelaka ye makambo.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Abandaka na maloba ya bozoba mpe asukisaka na maloba ya mabe.
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.
14 Zoba alobaka mingi. Moto moko te ayebi makambo oyo ekoya; nani akoki koyebisa ye makambo oyo ekosalema sima na ye?
A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 Mosala ya zoba elembisaka ye, ayebi ata kutu te nzela oyo ememaka na engumba.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Mawa na mokili oyo mokonzi na yango azali mwana moke, mpe oyo bakambi na yango balangwaka masanga na tongo-tongo!
Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!
17 Esengo na mokili oyo mokonzi na yango abotama na libota ya bato minene, mpe oyo bakambi na yango baliaka na tango oyo esengeli mpo na kozwa makasi, kasi mpo na kolangwa masanga te.
But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Soki moto azali goyigoyi, likolo ya ndako na ye ekobukana; soki maboko na ye elemba, ndako na ye ekotanga mayi.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 Basalaka feti mpo na kosepela, mpe masanga ya vino epesaka esengo na motema, mpe mbongo epesaka biyano na makambo nyonso.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
20 Kolakela mokonzi mabe te, ezala kati na motema na yo; kolakela mozwi mabe te, ezala na mbeto na yo ya kolala, pamba te ndeke ya likolo ekoki komema maloba na yo mpe kopanza sango ya maloba na yo.
Do not curse the king, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter.
